A FIERCE battle against a housing bid for the old Turner Brothers' factory is being waged on a local, national and even international level.

The Observer has followed the Save Spodden Valley group's campaign since it formed in May 2004, triggered by the felling of 200 trees on the site of what was once the world's largest asbestos manufacturer.

Their concerns over contamination increased when plans for 650 homes and a business park were submitted last December.

The case has been taken up in Westminster and is to be heard in Brussels later this month and, as well as gaining almost weekly coverage in the Observer, the story has attracted the attention of the national press, radio and TV.

Due to concerns about contamination and traffic surveys, the council has asked developers Countryside Properties and MMC Developments to revise the application, while officers brings in specialist consultants to view the site.

The battle rages on, as you can see from the articles in this feature which show how the Observer has covered the unfolding story so far ...